Real Food for Halloween Parties! (+ Pumpkin Energy Balls)

By blog team member, Kiran. To learn more about Kiran, check out our team page!

It’s that time again, friends. Festive fall full of pumpkins, spice, and everything nice, right?! I seriously can’t get enough of this season. Growing up, Halloween was a hugely (did I really just say that?) anticipated date for me. Trick-or-treating and getting outside with friends was always such a delight. I still love this time of year, and most years my family dresses up together (see below)!

What to do with all the candy?

Anyone with kids ends up in the same boat this time of year – loaded down with candy. So I want to share an idea that can help: The Sugar Goblin. This sponsor of ours offers an adorable stuffed animal (which comes with a book) that will leave a little something for your kids on Halloween night in exchange for their unwanted candy (after they pick out their favs to keep, of course)! It’s a great way to keep candy consumption in check without spoiling any of the fun. Lisa’s girls got one last year and thought it was super fun. The Sugar Goblin is sold at amazon and target.com. They did sell out last year, so if you’re interested, don’t delay! You can learn more about The Sugar Goblin from their website. And now for those party ideas…

Real Food for Halloween Parties

Whether you’re hosting an event or asked to bring something to share, some of the ideas below are good alternatives to traditional baskets of candy and sugar-laden treats. Because, as we just discussed, there is certainly no shortage of that around Halloween time. And, have no fear, we’re definitely not skimping on the yumminess factor. No, I’m pretty sure your little guests will be perfectly happy with the some of these options.

Pumpkin MuffinsWhole grain, non-messy, and no utensils required. This one is a no-brainer!–

Pumpkin Fluff A real foodified version of the tried and true dessert.–

Pumpkin Roll Out CookiesYou see, I’m trying to get y’all to OD on pumpkin. Think I’m gonna make it happen? Just be sure to try one of these suckers before going there. P.S. – there’s a secret ingredient in this one!–

Honey Caramel ApplesThis is such a fun activity to do with kids. And bonus – they can enjoy the fruits of their labor. Pun intended!––

Dip with veggies
I know you are thinking – WTH? And this is supposed to be Halloweenish? Well, when you serve your dip in a pumpkin, it certainly can be festive!–

Tangerine Pumpkins & Pizza Mummies
Okay, so we first saw this on Pinterest. Hel-lo? Don’t lots of great ideas come from there anyhow? I love these tangerine pumpkins, and so do the kiddos. Also, the mummies are super cute and would work great with whole wheat pitas (you can find them at Trader Joe’s)!

Now for a recipe of our own that I seriously hope you try, whether it’s autumn or any other season. My kids are suckers for almost any energy ball. I love that they are easily transportable – think after-school snacks while en route to activities and great throw-ins for lunch boxes. And oh yeah, they’re full of super yummy ingredients I feel good about giving my kids. Let me warn you, though. These suckers are addicting. Once you pop one, you may not want to stop!

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About Kiran Dodeja Smith

Kiran Dodeja Smith is the mom of 4 kids and has been a part of the 100 Days team for 6 years. When she’s not in the kitchen cooking, she can be found running (and sometimes more likely running her kids around) and posting on her own blog, EasyRealFood.com.

So I am also in a Pumpkin Mood and and bought the first can of pure pumpkin puree at the grocery this past weekend. Now granted, it was an off-brand but that usually doesn’t bother me. I was all set to make Pumpkin Pancakes and I open the can…the pumpkin is in a solid mass. Like the canned cranberry gel — at Thanksgiving. I check the date on the can and its 2017. It’s not rancid. Then my eyes wander to the ingredients: Pumpkin, Carrageenan. Blah. I was so disappointed. I had no idea that basic pumpkin puree could be adulterated. I will check the label forevermore.

Try roasting your own. Pie pumpkins have been 41 any size, at my local grocery store(normally $2-$3 at my farmers’ market), naturally I bought the largest ones I could find. Sure, it takes time to roast a pumpkin, but one gets way more then a can’s worth. I find pie pumpkins keep in my basement through November, sometimes longer, so I stock up. Then I roast as needed throughout the fall. Though you could certainly roast and freeze for later use.

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To make the veggies and dip look spooky, try sticking carrot fingers in them. I saw some neat on-line pictures of humus with carrot fingers sticking out of the humus. Almonds or red pepper were used for the finger nails. I wanted to bring some to a school party, but alas needed individually wrapped snacks.

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I’m so excited to share all the info with you about the three cookbooks in my 100 Days of Real Food series. Each cookbook is unique and features its own content, from breaking down the science behind grains, to providing…